Only you- Dove

So above is another example of marketing and advertising taking the easy way out, a cop out if you will. Why do I say that? Well the above commercial features a beautiful, skinny girl devouring her Dove ice cream bar. That should be considered false advertising. A girl as beautiful, skinny, and confident doesn’t make love to the to the ice cream bar while inhaling it. I’m just saying it doesn’t seem right to me.

Why does watching a commercial about a snack food suddenly feel like watching porn? I mean sure, it’s soft care porn but porn none-the-less. What do you guys think?

I haven’t figured out who the ad agency but will let you know in an update to the post. Here is something I bet you all knew, the ice cream bar has both a Facebook page and a Twitter following.

Update: I've been asked who the actress in the spot above is? Her name is Janelle Fishman, an Israeli  model.

Best,
-A.B.

Social Links on Bench Ads

Apparently social networking buttons have become quite trendy, more trendy then I ever expected. In the bench ad above, there was advertising for a realtor. Notice that the company has all the social networking quick links proudly displayed on the bench. Why would these be important for a realtor to display on a bench? Well, I looked at the advertiser's YouTube channel and all it does is show clips of properties that it is responsible for.

Is YouTube the first place you would go look if you are looking for a new home? I ask the same question in regards to the other social networks, are Facebook and Twitter the best way to look for new customers looking for a new home? The actual bench ad I can justify but not the social networking buttons displayed on the bench. Why, because you can't click the social links on the bench.

I understand the tactic if you have loyal customers that are only looking to use you as their realtor? But are new potential homeowners really that brand loyal? They are simply looking for someone to help them buy a home. You must leave quite an impression for them to remember you all the way home and then visit your sites on their home computers.

Anyway, what do you guys think? Let me know in the comment section below. Also, I blocked out most of the bench ad because I got the impression it gives an individual free advertising as oppose to an actual brand or company.

Best,
-A.B.

Sprint's Present to Twitter

The spot above created by Goodby, Silverstein & Partners must have been Sprint’s gift to Twitter. What other reason could they have for giving them free product placement in their television spot that I believe is airing nationally. The spot gives a shout out to several Web 2.0 product and services such as YouTube and Google. The question is why are they doing this in a nationally aired spot? Are these other Internet companies helping pay for the spot?

I read a few blogs that claim the mobile phone network provider wanted to show that their network and can be used for more then just making phone calls on the go. Almost everybody now has a device that that makes calls, browses the net, sends email, and connects to social networks. But the question still remains, why give those other companies free advertising? The title of this post is “Sprint's Present to Twitter” and that’s because they get a name mention and their stupid birds flying all over the screen. No offense to Twitter, of course.

Usually when products and services other then the one being promoted are mentioned, they are a direct competitor and they aren’t usually mentioned in a positive light. Also, the other social networks mentioned in the spot are mentioned quickly unlike Twitter and its blue birds.

Anyway, if anyone can find solid reasoning for all these product placements in this ad please comment and I’ll thank you and link to your site on my blog if you have a site.

Best,
A.B.